After years spent raising her children and building a corporate career, Shannon Oakley didn’t initially set out to become a franchise owner. But today, as the owner of The Cleaning Authority locations in Spokane and Bellevue, Washington, she’s proof that thoughtful preparation, strong relationships and an established system can pave the way to sustainable entrepreneurship.
Oakley’s journey began in a very different chapter of life.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for a long time while my husband worked,” she said. “When my kids were school-age, I chose to start working as a barista at Starbucks.”
What began as a part-time role quickly turned into a corporate career. Oakley moved up through the ranks, working across multiple stores and gaining experience in financial management. “It was a great company to work for,” she said. “I worked across different stores, financial management — it gave me great exposure.”
That operational foundation would prove invaluable when she transitioned into a management role at The Cleaning Authority in Spokane in 2016.
“I transitioned into a job at The Cleaning Authority, managing the location first with the intention to purchase,” she said. “But I wanted to make sure it was a place I wanted to be long term. That was a great opportunity.”
From the outside, residential cleaning may appear straightforward. Oakley quickly learned otherwise. “I really tried to understand the industry because it is actually a lot more complex than people realize,” she said. “House cleaning can’t be automated. It is a human workforce, and with that comes a lot of aspects.”
For Oakley, that wasn’t intimidating; it was motivating.
“We are a people company, and that is really what drew me in,” she said. “In our office, we have a wonderful opportunity of working with local employees and supporting them while we continue to support customers through cleaning. The relationships I was able to build were the driving force.”
In 2020, that opportunity for ownership came sooner than expected. “The owner at the time approached me and asked if I wanted to purchase the business,” Oakley said. “Entrepreneurship was definitely something that I knew I would get into eventually.”
While ownership can often feel isolating, Oakley says The Cleaning Authority’s established franchise system made the decision easier.
“With The Cleaning Authority, the support system they offer is really different than any other franchise,” she said. “They not only offer the playbook, but also the support along with it from people who have done the work and found success. You have other owners who have come before you, who have already been in your shoes and can walk alongside you.”
For Oakley, that community element was critical. “It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top, if you create relationships with other owners,” she said.
Oakley stepped into ownership during one of the most challenging periods for small businesses: the COVID-19 pandemic. But she says the resilience of the residential cleaning industry quickly became clear.
“Coming back from COVID was not easy, but it happened because our industry is always needed,” she said. “It’s not going away. People are always going to live in houses, and they will always need help keeping them clean.”
Oakley’s success in Spokane opened the door to further growth. In 2023, she expanded her footprint. “I had the opportunity to purchase an additional location of The Cleaning Authority over in Bellevue,” she said. “Now we are looking at what the future looks like over there.”
That move into multi-unit ownership reflects her confidence in the brand. “The system that we have in place works — it’s just a matter of how closely you are dedicated to aligning with it,” Oakley said. “If you want to reinvent the wheel, this brand is not for you.”
From stay-at-home mom to corporate leader, from manager to multi-unit franchisee, Oakley’s path shows how franchise ownership can offer both stability and long-term opportunity.
To learn more about The Cleaning Authority franchise opportunity, visit https://cleaningauthorityfranchise.com/.
The Cleaning Authority
SPONSORED
Leveraging her corporate experience, Shannon Oakley successfully transitioned from managing a single The Cleaning Authority location to becoming a multi-unit franchisee.
After years spent raising her children and building a corporate career, Shannon Oakley didn’t initially set out to become a franchise owner. But today, as the owner of The Cleaning Authority locations in Spokane and Bellevue, Washington, she’s proof that thoughtful preparation, strong relationships and an established system can pave the way to sustainable entrepreneurship.
Oakley’s journey began in a very different chapter of life.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for a long time while my husband worked,” she said. “When my kids were school-age, I chose to start working as a barista at Starbucks.”
What began as a part-time role quickly turned into a corporate career. Oakley moved up through the ranks, working across multiple stores and gaining experience in financial management. “It was a great company to work for,” she said. “I worked across different stores, financial management — it gave me great exposure.”
That operational foundation would prove invaluable when she transitioned into a management role at The Cleaning Authority in Spokane in 2016.
“I transitioned into a job at The Cleaning Authority, managing the location first with the intention to purchase,” she said. “But I wanted to make sure it was a place I wanted to be long term. That was a great opportunity.”
From the outside, residential cleaning may appear straightforward. Oakley quickly learned otherwise. “I really tried to understand the industry because it is actually a lot more complex than people realize,” she said. “House cleaning can’t be automated. It is a human workforce, and with that comes a lot of aspects.”
For Oakley, that wasn’t intimidating; it was motivating.
“We are a people company, and that is really what drew me in,” she said. “In our office, we have a wonderful opportunity of working with local employees and supporting them while we continue to support customers through cleaning. The relationships I was able to build were the driving force.”
In 2020, that opportunity for ownership came sooner than expected. “The owner at the time approached me and asked if I wanted to purchase the business,” Oakley said. “Entrepreneurship was definitely something that I knew I would get into eventually.”
While ownership can often feel isolating, Oakley says The Cleaning Authority’s established franchise system made the decision easier.
“With The Cleaning Authority, the support system they offer is really different than any other franchise,” she said. “They not only offer the playbook, but also the support along with it from people who have done the work and found success. You have other owners who have come before you, who have already been in your shoes and can walk alongside you.”
For Oakley, that community element was critical. “It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top, if you create relationships with other owners,” she said.
Oakley stepped into ownership during one of the most challenging periods for small businesses: the COVID-19 pandemic. But she says the resilience of the residential cleaning industry quickly became clear.
“Coming back from COVID was not easy, but it happened because our industry is always needed,” she said. “It’s not going away. People are always going to live in houses, and they will always need help keeping them clean.”
Oakley’s success in Spokane opened the door to further growth. In 2023, she expanded her footprint. “I had the opportunity to purchase an additional location of The Cleaning Authority over in Bellevue,” she said. “Now we are looking at what the future looks like over there.”
That move into multi-unit ownership reflects her confidence in the brand. “The system that we have in place works — it’s just a matter of how closely you are dedicated to aligning with it,” Oakley said. “If you want to reinvent the wheel, this brand is not for you.”
From stay-at-home mom to corporate leader, from manager to multi-unit franchisee, Oakley’s path shows how franchise ownership can offer both stability and long-term opportunity.
To learn more about The Cleaning Authority franchise opportunity, visit https://cleaningauthorityfranchise.com/.
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